Store Takes Initial Step Toward Expansion

Stop & Shop Details Wetlands Plans

MADISON — While the final plans may be subject to significant changes, Stop & Shop Co. took an initial step Monday night toward a long-planned expansion of its Madison store.

With help from two attorneys, a soils scientist and an engineer, the company presented an application for regulated wetlands activities related to the expansion of the store on Sampson Rock Drive at a public hearing of the inland-wetlands agency.

Attorney Thomas Cody said the permit application for storm and roof-water runoff discharge and installation of curbing, rip rap and fencing within the 25-foot wetlands buffer area was not affected by the May 12 town referendum to allow a reconfiguration of the town's Scranton Park, which adjoins the existing parking area for the store. Cody said the wetlands issues for the proposed expansion ``are largely the same'' with or without a reconfiguration of the park.

The company's plans to reconfigure the park as part of an expansion of the existing store and adjoining retail shops from 55,450 to 64,515 square feet has generated opposition from some residents.

Cody said the company is pursuing an application for a wetlands permit based on a March referendum that rejected a reconfiguration of the park. He said the company is willing to work with the board of selectmen and other town boards in designing a revised expansion plan to include changes to the park.

He said submission of a required special permit application for the store expansion to the planning and zoning commission will be delayed until agreement is reached with town officials on the reconfiguration of the park.

Michael Klein, a West Hartford soil scientist, said the expansion plans will have no direct effects on three regulated wetlands areas that adjoin the 5.9-acre store property to the southwest and the southeast.

Klein said storm water treatment measures included in the plans will improve the quality of the storm water discharged from the parking lot.